Starting a business or creative project is scary for many reasons, but one that is often overlooked is the anxiety related to whether this is really “the one.” To some, this isn’t a valid consideration while to others this is the only consideration. Some argue that what you work on, along with who you work with are the two most pivotal decisions you’ll make and so we’ve asked folks to tell us about how they came up with their ideas and how they knew this idea was the one.
Lizzy Lefkowitz
Astrology has always been my main passion. I knew I wanted to focus on it but also teach others in a way that’s fun and accessible, like creating a local community where I could share my knowledge with a unique twist. A lot of my learning came from reading countless books, attending workshops, taking classes, and investing time that many people simply don’t have. That’s why I think it’s important to share the basics of astrology in a way that empowers others to incorporate it into their daily lives and harness their personal power. Read more>>
Joshua Davis
Let me take you through how SmooveCajunCatering came to be, and the full journey that led to its creation. I was born and raised in Louisiana, so food has always been more than just something we eat—it’s been a way of life. My earliest memories are in the kitchen with my grandma and mama, watching them cook with that deep, intuitive understanding of flavors. I’d stand there, fascinated, stirring pots, chopping vegetables, and trying to mimic their every move. What I loved the most was how food brought everyone together. Whether it was a big family feast or a quiet Sunday meal, it always felt like something special. Read more>>
Heidi Huttunen
SHE IS EVERLI was created from a love of the wedding industry. I started my creative career as a wedding photographer, and then a graphic designer – combining both my passions I founded SHE IS EVERLI. After designing family and friend’s wedding invitations, I noticed a gap in the market for brides who do not have a large budget to spend on wedding invitations, and this where I discovered digital templates, which are affordable and easily accessible for every type of bride. I offer both a DIY digital template route as well as a premium, professional service in which I create and print for a bride. Read more>>
Krista Qualls
We all remember the year 2020…. mask mandate requirements in a medical clinic for 8 long hours each day was the start to my skin issues. I hated that my skin felt suffocated under the mask. I tried to keep a healthy glow, but I was defeated by dry, flaky skin that soon developed acne at the age of 40. Once the mask mandate was lifted, I evaluated my skin and consulted an esthetician and dermatologist. They recommendation high-cost treatment options that I felt was unnecessary. I also felt like another person sitting in a busy waiting room waiting for my number to be called. I didn’t feel there was a personal touch to the entire process. Read more>>
Sarah Coupland
The idea for The Social Hive didn’t come from a single lightbulb moment but rather a culmination of experiences and lessons learned over the years. It’s deeply rooted in my entrepreneurial journey, starting when I launched my first business at 16 and later owning a successful soap company for eight years. That business taught me the power of storytelling and connection, but it also opened my eyes to a major gap: many small businesses struggle to effectively showcase their brand online. When COVID-19 forced my soap company to close, I had a choice, grieve what was lost or pivot toward something new. Read more>>
Danielle Paese
My love of creativity began long before I discovered floral design. As a young artist, I was always drawn to expression—whether through fashion sketches in middle school or exploring the countless ways art could breathe life into imagination. When I stumbled into floral design, it felt like discovering a medium I didn’t know I was searching for. Flowers aren’t just decorations to me; they’re living, breathing art forms that capture emotions, tell stories, and transform spaces. Each stem, each petal is a brushstroke in a living canvas, capable of conveying joy, love, and the most intimate moments of human connection. Read more>>
Maggie Gravier
I had never heard of a Virtual Assistant until Spring of 2024! In the all of 2023 I was laid off from my corporate operations management position at a tech company. I spent months on the job hunt, and with the market the way its been I wasn’t getting anywhere. I applied for hundreds of jobs, worked with recruiters, interviewed weekly, and still nothing! I was applying for anything and everything that could be somewhat relevant to my experience. There are so many people in the same boat I’ve been in, and its miserable. It feels devaluing, disheartening, and frustrating as all heck. I knew I couldn’t go on like that anymore, and needed to make change happen. Read more>>
Liezel Rubin
I am an artist of all types. Whether it be music, fine art, photography, performance art, graphic design, video producing/editing, or many other forms of art… it’s what feeds me and fills me. When the pandemic hit and production in the world stopped or greatly slowed down for many of us, I was left with the gift of time…. so it was here that my PuppetGram journey really began to move forward. As a photographer and graphic designer I had the tools to create my vision from inside my head – passing through my fingertips onto my computer screen – to you… Read more>>
Sneh Patel, Brij Patel, Dhruvil Dagli
The genesis of the Philadelphia Warhawks lies in late-night conversations fueled by a shared frustration. We, Sneh, Brij, and Dhruvil, would spend hours glued to the television, watching international cricket matches, yearning to experience the same level of excitement and competitiveness locally. Despite our passion for the game, opportunities to play competitive cricket in Philadelphia were limited. This disparity between the thrilling matches we witnessed and the lack of high-level cricket in our own city fueled a desire to change the landscape. We recognized a city brimming with untapped potential for cricket, a passion simmering just beneath the surface among diverse communities. This realization ultimately led to the establishment of the Philadelphia Warhawks in 2023, a vision we began cultivating in 2022. Read more>>
Matt Rogers
I was the kid who played every sport and always loved competing and had an enormous dream to play in college. I grew up in a tiny little town (Lena, IL) and neither of my parents went to college, so we really had no idea how or what to do or even where to start. I got very lucky I got to play college basketball. I really only had one coach recruit me, and that was at the school where my older brother and sister graduated, so we had some connections. worse athletics experience because I didn’t know what questions to ask before I made the decision, nor how to handle my emotions when things didn’t go my way. I didn’t understand how important my priorities were to making a healthy decision. Read more>>
Bjarne Haug
In 2021, I sold my former company, IMOTO, a real estate marketing platform that, at the time of the sale, had connected 12,000 real estate agents and was operating in 10 states across the South. Along with that story, I must admit that I’ve always had a deep interest in cars—especially race cars—and I loved going to the track. At the time of the sale, I was driving up Franklin Avenue in New Orleans (a route I often took). On Franklin Avenue, there was a small local storage facility where I stored my enclosed car trailer. Read more>>
Ronald Chan
Odd One Out started during a pivotal moment in my life. After spending over a decade across Asia, I returned to Taiwan in 2021, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. What struck me most was how next-level the tea culture was there. Bubble tea (Boba) wasn’t just a drink—it was a lifestyle. Local shops were pushing boundaries with bold flavors and creative concepts I hadn’t seen anywhere else, and it sparked an idea: why not share this incredible tea experience with the world but with a twist of my own? Read more>>
Taylor Friedel
I’ve always been a huge podcast fan, and I rarely use my Spotify account for music anymore—it’s almost always podcasts. They’re so versatile! Some offer comfort, others provide motivation, and of course, I can’t resist a good true crime podcast, especially on road trips. I know a lot of people complain about how many podcasts have popped up these days, but honestly, I think the podcasts we choose to listen to are so personal. There can never be too many! Read more>>
Giancarlo Castellan
I moved to US because I won the Green Card Lottery and I opened the Facebook page ‘Magnagati in America’ as a joke to show pictures and videos from the US to parents and friends. The page grew up with a lot of followers interested in my family adventure. This became a mission for me and I would create every day an amusement page for all foreign people that love USA. Read more>>
Hannah Stevens
Hello! My name is Hannah, and I’m the owner of Nahnahs! I’m 24 years old, and I started this small business in 2024 shortly after graduating college. I started this business, because my life changed drastically when I moved back home to NJ. I had a new full-time job, only 2 friends still home in NJ, and starting to learn how to live between both my parents houses really for the first time. I always bought so many sweatshirts, and comfy clothes, but always felt like I was settling on things that were just so basic. I wanted a cricut machine for a while, so my mom gave me the idea to start making my own sweatshirts/sweatpants and to sell them on Etsy. Read more>>
Brennan Bowen
When I was 19 years old, I had the privilege of spending a year abroad at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City. That time was transformative. It opened my eyes to new cultures, new people, and a new appreciation for the ways food connects us all. Since then, I’ve carried a special place in my heart for Mexico City, for Latin America, and for the beauty of sharing a meal—or dessert—with others. After graduating from college, I moved to Shanghai for what I thought would be a two-month adventure. That short trip turned into five incredible years teaching English, immersing myself in a new culture, and learning more about the world and myself than I ever could have imagined. Read more>>
Holly Sloofman
In February 2022 I was in Mexico to celebrate my birthday. I had moved to LA 6 months prior, and Covid was still requiring folks to wear masks inside and test before coming back to the States. I was loving LA so far, but not having much luck when it came to dating. A friend and mentor called me to say happy birthday and during our chat she asked how dating was going. I went into a familiar diatribe about how much the apps suck and that I was thinking of deleting them (again) – a cycle I had been through many times before. She asked a question that planted the initial seed for Necterine – “Why don’t you make your own app?” Read more>>
Douglas Hess
The podcast Forgotten Hollywood began during the solitude of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many people, the isolation brought about by lockdowns led to long stretches of reflection. For me, these moments often came while mowing the lawn, a mundane yet meditative task that allowed ideas to flow freely. During those hours behind the mower, the concept for Forgotten Hollywood began to take shape. I wanted the podcast to dive into the overlooked and lesser-known stories of Hollywood’s past—a treasure trove of history waiting to be uncovered and shared. The idea felt fresh, but convincing others of its potential wasn’t easy. Read more>>
Adam Maitland
As a fifth-grade teacher passionate about science, I, Adam Maitland, always looked for creative ways to engage my students. The inspiration for Creative Arena struck during an exceptionally ordinary school year. I was tasked with teaching a unit on Force and Motion, a subject that, while fascinating, can sometimes be challenging to make relatable for young learners. My goal was to create an activity that met state standards and captured my students’ imaginations. Read more>>
Shashank Madala
The inspiration for creating Kora came from a deeply personal place—my cousins in India who have autism and the experiences we witnessed within our families. We saw firsthand how isolating and overwhelming daily caregiving could be for my aunt and uncle. Despite their love and dedication, they often felt frustrated and confused, struggling to address my cousins’ emotional needs. The lack of accessible resources only added to their challenges, making it difficult to find the right support at the right time. The stigmatization of autism in India only worsened this issue as there were no easily accessible communities or support systems of parents in similar situations for my aunt and uncle to turn to. Read more>>
Jameson Russell
“My journey into starting my management business began with my roots in the nightlife industry, where I thrived by throwing unforgettable parties, hosting events, and forming dynamic promo teams. The success I found in orchestrating high-energy events gave me the confidence to believe that managing a single entity would feel second nature compared to controlling the chaos of a party. Growing up in a family dedicated to service, I’ve always valued hard work and the importance of helping others. With this foundation, I decided to establish my own firm, driven not only by a passion for personal growth but also by a commitment to putting my best effort into seeing my clients succeed. My ultimate goal is to build a legacy of success and opportunity within the entertainment industry.” Read more>>
Matthew Ebert
There were a lot of times when I was a School Principal that I needed help. Most often, it was help with the “gray spaces.” I had been fortunate to have a small network of leaders who I could contact sometimes when I needed that kind of support but for the most part I was on my own. School districts are big and busy which can leave the people on the ground feeling lost and lonely when they need support. As I was planning to step away from my role, I began to connect with other veteran and former Principals to see if they felt similarly to how I did when it came to the isolation and need for ongoing support. Many of them reported that they did. They shared that they wished that they had someone who they could have reached out to consistently, who could have helped them think through the challenges with nuance, and someone who had been in the same role so they wouldn’t have to spend time explaining the realities and constraints. Read more>>
Enmy Fournier
The idea for my photography business grew naturally out of my life experiences and passions. As a scientist, I’ve always been curious about moments and attention to details, the way light shifts throughout the day, how expressions change in a split second, or how small details tell a bigger story. This curiosity is what led me to buy my first camera, initially to document my travels around this country. Photography became my way of freezing moments that I wanted to hold onto forever. Read more>>
Melissa Kevlahan
My nephew Nicholas was a young man that was called home unexpectedly in the winter of 2017. He had a huge giving heart that was perfectly demonstrated in one of his last acts on this earth. It was a frigid night in Dover, New Jersey when Nick came upon a homeless man in need of a coat. Without hesitation he took the coat off his back and gave to this man. Nick then returned home that night and with his Mom immediately gathered up more clothes and coats to bring to this man and others like him at a local shelter in Dover. Read more>>
Kimberly Souliere
Like many who come to Los Angeles, I originally moved here with the hope of bringing my sewing and design skills to the film and television industry. But after struggling to get my foot in the door while fighting for shifts as a waitress in Santa Monica, I was unsure how to move forward. The breakthrough came for me when I found another gig at a cute little boutique just across from the bar where I worked, a decision that changed my entire trajectory. Read more>>
Laura Sinclair
When I became a mom and an entrepreneur, I quickly realized how lonely it could be. Those first few years postpartum were some of the hardest in my life—not just because of the sleepless nights or figuring out how to be a good mom, but because I felt like no one really understood what I was going through. I was trying to grow a business, navigate motherhood, and somehow still find a version of myself in the middle of it all. It was overwhelming in a way I can’t even fully describe. Read more>>
Dr. Richard Myles Sr.
The reason I began the Minor Football League (MFL) back in 1993 was to provide an opportunity for young men to develop their football skills and talents in a professional setting, and to provide another avenue outside high school and college. Thus, this was the beginning of the beginning of “the laboratory of change.” As a native Washingtonian, who has the opportunity to be a student-athlete at the highest level in my hometown and then to advance to the highest level of the sport after college, I have first-hand witnessed the joys and perils of football. The NFL, while a dream for many, it’s limited space each year for young men who want to play. I noticed the lack of opportunity and wanted to create access, to solve a problem to a complicated challenge. The MFL was created to expand opportunities on the field and beyond. Also, knowing what athletes mean to their local and respective communities, the MFL was created to also enable another mechanism for people to give back to the community, hence the league’s 100 hours service policy. Read more>>
Exotique Men
I was moonlighting as a male exotic dancer while working in finance full-time. I realized that I was much more passionate about dancing than I was about finance but the fear of failure always prevented me from taking the initial step. It wasn’t until Covid that I had a falling out with my dance employer that I decided to take a leap of faith and start my own business, Exotique Men. It was very stressful and depressing at first and the only positives I could get from it were small wins here and there. Sometimes I would sell a few tickets or get a few calls. But it was tough at first. Read more>>
Frances Martinez
In 2019 my family decided to go to Disney for Christmas. A life long dream of mine. I have always been crafty and decided to make matching ears for our trip. Everyone loved the the ears and while at Disney we received many compliments on my ears. That inspired me to look into the possibility of opening up my own small shop. One year later Fantasmic Mouse Ears was born. I have not looked back since. Read more>>
Michael Scheidle
The idea for Constant Vigilance Safety Education began with a very simple, yet quite powerful conversation I had with a colleague from my time as a volunteer in the United States Air Force Auxiliary, from when we both were Civil Air Patrol cadets. CAP is where I started in my journey of service. Now, in 2025, I can say I’m in my 8th year in private security and I am to be blunt, not impressed with the training options and the competency standards and professional development opportunities private security have in the City of Las Vegas. CVSE while not operational just yet in Vegas (we’re running in Arizona through my business partner), will seek to change the training methodology and have a hand in standards for both armed and unarmed professionals. Read more>>
Eloise Armstrong
From Apprentice to Agency Owner: My Journey to Becoming a Business Owner I have always had a deep love for travelling, a passion that started at a young age. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to travel (most of) the world with my family, so it felt only natural that after college, I would pursue a career in travel. I started an apprenticeship as a travel agent at the age of 17, and eventually worked as a travel consultant for four years. Read more>>
Robbie Darby
In 2013 my mother Georgia passed away unexpectedly after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She was my mother and my best friend, so this loss completely devastated me. The grief was overwhelming my personal life but I was excelling in my professional life as a fitness/wellness entrepreneur. This imbalance was not sustainable, so one day in 2015 I prayed that God would send me a hobby. Something to honor my mother and start to heal. Immediately after this request I felt the desire to learn how to sew since my mother had passed before being able to teach me. Read more>>
Miss. Dee
I like to say this passion and vision for my business found me. Or God just threw it in my lap. In 2017 I was 27 years old and working for a children’s hair salon in Houston when I realized the town where my family lived just 2 hours away didn’t have any children hair salons so I randomly decided i needed to bring one there. Upon starting the planning process my coworker told my boss my plans and my boss told me she wasn’t okay with that so I needed to quit. Yikes right?! Did I mention I was a single mom? so picture it ,single mom deciding to open a salon with no experience in starting a business and no job. Read more>>
Jasmine Hough
Sacred Serenity was born out of my own self-healing, self-love, and self-care journey. I was in a space of solitude, stepping away from the noise of the world. It allowed me to reconnect with my energy, vibration, and my truest self in its purest form! In that stillness, I learned to love all aspects of me, the good, the bad, the parts of me that were unheard and undervalued. I fully acknowledged the fullness of me, and it felt good!!!! As I developed my relationship with GOD, I felt a peace and happiness that overcame me that otherwise I could never fulfill. I had searched all over for it. GOD had a mission just for me. It was a transformative experience, and I realized that others could benefit from doing the same—falling back in love with who they are in their purest and most authentic form. That became the heartbeat of Sacred Serenity. Read more>>
Jacqueline Jackson
For most of my life, I successfully managed my mental health. But motherhood completely changed everything. A cascade of challenges quickly overshadowed the joy of welcoming my children. The isolation, the trauma of near-death experiences during childbirth, and the relentless demands of motherhood pushed me to my limits. During this incredibly challenging period, I found solace in the simplest of things: the calming aroma of lavender oil, the feeling of accomplishment after a mindful meditation session, and the comfort of soft, natural fabrics against my skin. These small acts of self-care, seemingly insignificant on their own, became anchors in the storm. They reminded me of my worth, resilience, and the importance of nurturing myself. Read more>>
Telicia Bunch
My journey to creating Lorrel stems from over 25 years in the fashion industry, where I’ve witnessed firsthand the negative impact the industry has on the environment and the people who make our garments. The fashion world has convinced us that we need occasion-specific clothing, “a perfect work dress, “a perfect summer dress”, leading to overflowing closets filled with items rarely worn. Capsule wardrobes were supposed to simplify this, but most only offer basic colors and silhouettes meant to layer over these occasion-specific pieces, perpetuating decision fatigue and contributing to the disposability of clothing. Read more>>
Katheryn Langelier
Fifteen years ago, I started this mighty little business. It was 2010. I was working three different jobs and hustling Herbal Revolution at farmers markets, events and doing cold calls to stores in my free time. I was living in a log cabin in Lincolnville Maine, growing a 1+ acre garden on my neighbors’ land and wild harvesting in magical places around the state of Maine. At this point in my life, I had been doing outdoor education, farming and working with plant medicine for close to 15 years. I was deeply connected and committed to working with the land and wanted to have a greater impact on my community. I wanted to work with people around health self-reliance with the support of bio-regional plant medicine. Read more>>